A friend of mine came over to Australia to visit me, so naturally no trip over would be complete without visiting the Great Barrier Reef. Even though I've been before I was terribly excited, as soon as we were on the plane the two of us were positively giddy. After getting soaked to our skin in Cairns (Rainy Season!) the morning came and we boarded the boat that would take us out.
Even if you've been diving or snorkeling before, even if you've seen every documentary on the ocean nothing can really prepare you for how wonderful it is, the first moment you put your head in the water and look all around you. Its more then just fish or coral, its the abundance of life all around. The colors are far more vibrant then any photograph can capture the shoals of small curious fish swim right past your mask, the bigger ones just at arms reach. Creatures you didn't believe could be real are just swimming along like everything it normal. It truly is another world right here on earth and for a moment you get to glimpse it.
Unfortunately the sad reality is, the Reef is slowly being destroyed due to climate change. If something isn't done soon, the Barrier Reef will soon be nothing more then a memory.
